OLD SETTLERS MEETING
August 24th, 1911
Transcribed from the Steuben Republican Newspaper
Submitted by: Sean Walker
swalker65@yahoo.com

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 For about forty years we have spoken of these annual gatherings as "Old Settlers' Meetings," but the onward sweep of years will soon compel us to change the title, for the really old settlers are becoming quite scarce.  Several were here, however and spent the day as usual talking to each other of the days when Steuben county was younger, and when they were in the prime of life and good health.  Old and young were here, the extremes being represented by a four months' old babe in its mother's arms, and by Grandma Maugherman, aged 105 years, seated most of the day in a chair 114 years old, furnished by Leslie Kellogg, of Angola.

 The meeting in the church was well attended by the old people, who perhaps more than usual entertained the audience with reminiscences of the early days.  The session was opened with prayer by M. B. McLouth, of Ray; the death roll, published herewith, was read by F. B. VanAuken; Maurice McClew made an excellent address, and a number of old people gave splendid talks.  Just before the benediction by Dr. Marble, Frank L. Adams stirred the audience with one of his characteristic addresses, prompted by the inspiration of the occasion.

 At the opening of the meeting in the park, there as not a speaker in sight, so after the Salvation Army representatives had sung and offered prayer, the president, Stephen A. Powers occupied the time until the arrival of Mr. Ganiard of Lagrange.  Mr. Powers knows just what will best entertain an audience at an old settlers' meeting, and this time he was at his best and his hearers were soon in the spirit that insures a good time.  The speech given by Mr. Ganiard is pronounced one of the best ever given before the pioneer meetings.  For an hour or more he had the attention of his audience as he recounted the history of this section from the year 1831 until the present time.  The reading by Arla Clark was splendid, and the music by the Salvation Army inspiring, the entire audience joining in the familiar and sacred songs.  Among the very interesting events of the afternoon was a short talk by Mrs. Elizabeth Maugherman who in part said: "I once lived in a house that had no roof or floor.  I used to spin and weave.  I have done my work and lived alone for many years, especially since my children have gone for themselves.  I am the mother of sixteen children.  Two weeks ago I had to give up living alone and am now living with my daughter in Angola.  I will be 106 years old at my next birthday.  I hope to live to attend the next Old Settlers' meeting."

 The Angola band furnished excellent music during the day.

 The ball games, both forenoon and afternoon, drew good crowds.  In the forenoon game Hamilton won by a score of 2 to 1, but in the afternoon Angola turned the tables by a score of 6 to 2.

 The day was ideal for a gathering of this kind, although the threatened rain in the morning no doubt kept many at home.  The audience, however was of fair size and very orderly.  The attractions, while few in number, gave good satisfaction.  The performing by a man and his wife on a wire stretched over a portion of the Public square was as daring as one would expect to see.  Altogether the meeting was a pronounced success thanks to the untiring president, Stephen A. Powers.

PIONEER NOTES

 Samuel Clark, of Sturgis, enjoyed the day as usual with former neighbors and friends.  Since the meeting he has been with his son in Otsego township.

 Voine Powers of Williams county, mingled among old acquaintances here.  With him was his son Oliver who twenty years ago was a student in the Tri-State college.  Of late years Oliver has been living in Texas and Oklahoma.

 Edner Bakestraw was fortunate in being invited to a splendid dinner gotten up by Mrs. Frank Adams and Mrs. W. O. Bailery, cooks who got their early training from the first white child born in Pleasant township, Mrs. Lydia Adams.

 One of the first settlers of the county, whose home is in York township, was telling of the luxuries of the present day as follows: "I came to town today without the aid of a horse.  Last night my son telephoned to me that he would be over in the morning and take me to the Old Settlers' meeting in an automobile, and here I am, not tired after the ride and no horse to look after."

 The exhibition drill by the college cadets in the afternoon was one of the pleasing features of the day.  These young people performed their drills with the precision of veterans, showing careful and painstaking work on their part and the superior ability of their drillmaster, Capt. D. Ferrara.  Much credit is due them, and our people generally are coming to appreciate them more and more upon each appearance.

 One of the pioneers in conversation about different things, related to us how Coldwater came to be so named.  Just south of the city is a stream of water and in the spring of the year it is quite deep.  Some indians had occasion to cross the stream and of course had to wade.  As each one came out on the opposite shore he called out the Indian name for Cold water, and this is said to be the way the beautiful name came to be selected.

 Among the first to arrive was George O. Bixler, of Gilead, Mich. Mr. Bixler was born in this county and lived a half mile east of Winsor's corners until 1861, when his father, who had cleared two farms in Steuben county, moved to Michigan.  Four of his five sons enlisted in the Civil war, the eldest, Frank, being one of the number who went from Angola early to join the 4th Michigan.  The fifth son enlisted, but his father-in-law took his place.

 Mrs. M. B. Thayer, now of Elkhart, Indiana, always takes a great interest in the Old Settler's meetings, and counts herself one of the number, although she is now unable to attend.  we usually receive a letter from her about the date of the Pioneer meeting.  This time she incidentally gave her answer to a question recently asked in the Pen and Scissors column, as follows:  The father and son, mother and daughter met.  The father wanted  the daughter and the son the mother.  In case of marriage what relation would the mother be to the father and the son to the daughter?"  Mrs. Thayer's answer is as follows:  "The mother would be mother-in-law to the father and the son step-son to the daughter."  She then asked another question:  "If your mother's sister isn't your aunt, who is she?"

 Henry H. Owen, of Angola, who will 77 years old the 28th of the present month, came here with his parents on May 7, 1837, settling on a farm near Lake Gage.  Mr. Owen is the oldest man in the county who moved into Millgrove township in 1837.  He has a splendid memory and readily called to mind his old neighbors of 74 years ago, as follows: Henry Miller, John Y. Somers, Harvey Johnson, John Remington, John Kemp, Truman Case, Justus Butler, Mr. Mills, Miles Holt, Mr. Hastings, Enoch Curtis, David Murray, Elder Mack, Elder E. R. Spear, William Teachout, Dr. Chittenden, who by the way lived on what is now known as the Ball farm, in the only house between Lake Gage and Angola, all of near Lake Gage; George Hendry, Jonas Twichell, Elder Dolphus Town, Mr. Wyrick, David Sams, John Stayner, Joseph Hardy, Joseph Sanders, whose daughter was one of the very first teachers in the county, all of Jackson Prairie; Captain Barry, Alexander Cahpin, Squire Choate, John Stocker, Deacon Kimball, Mr. Wilder, Stephen Sabin, Nelson Newton, Lewis Barnard, Charles Carlton, Dr. Carlton, Elder Blanchard, Calvin Blanchard, Dennison Fox, Allen Fox, David Fox, Elder Truman Burroughs, Emory Brown, of Orland.  Mr. Owen remembers the time when his father traded a yoke of steers, four years old, to William Carver, uncle of Orville Carver, for a brass clock; one of the first ever brought to the county.  The clock now would be worth about $4.00 and the oxen about $50 or $60.

(PICTURE)
Angola from the Square toward the north, taken forty years Ago.

(PICTURE)
View of Angola from the Square toward the northeast, taken forty years Ago.

DEATH ROLL

 Steuben county Old Settlers who came to Steuben county fifty years or more ago and who have died within the past year:
 Salena M. Weicht, wife of Joseph Butler, born in Angola, October 19, 1840; died at Lake Gage, Ind., Sept. 6, 1910, aged 60 years, 10 months and 17 days.
 Rev. Samuel Redman, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 6th, 1828; came to Steuben county about 1860, died August 25, 1910, aged 72 years, 5 months and 19 days.
 Henry Gochenauer, born in Lancaster county, Penn., Feb. 5, 1833; came to Steuben county in 1854, died Oct. 6, 1910, aged 77 years, 8 months and 1 day.
 Horace C. Brown, born in Scott township, Steuben county, Aug. 21, 1860, died in Chicago, Oct. 6, 1910, aged 50 years, 1 month and 15 days.
 Alexander McClue, born in Niagara county, New York, in April, 1835; came to Steuben county in 1837, died Oct. 16, 1910,  62 aged 77 years, 6 months.
 Martha Snyder, wife of Simon P. Showalter, born in Trumbull county, Ohio, Dec. 9, 1844; came to Steuben county in 1846, died in East Gilead, Mich., aged 65 years, 9 months and 27 days.
 Joseph McGrew, born in Jackson township, Steuben county, March 28, 1838, died Nov. 11, 1910, aged 72 years, 7 months and 13 days.
 Maria Jackson Ebert, wife of Hiram Ebert, born in Stark county, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1818; came to Steuben county in 1859, died at Ontario, Lagrange county, Nov. 2, 1910, aged 92 years, 8 months and 14 days.
 John B. A. W. Mugg, born in Angola, Ind., Sept. 24, 1850, died Oct. 13, 1910, aged 60 year and 19 days.
 Priscilla Lock Weiss, born in Licking county, Ohio, Oct. 11, 1833; came to Steuben county in 1859, died Nov. 9, 1910, aged 77 years and 29 days.
 Moses Sailor born in Hancock county, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1832; came to Steuben county in 1847; died Dec. 1, 1910, aged 77 years, 11 months and 25 days.
 Howard Lester Bair, born in Stark county, Ohio, April 17, 1848; died at Montgomery, Mich., Dec. 25, 1910, aged 62 years.
 Charles Hemry, born in Carroll county, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1825; came to Steuben county in 1853, died Dec. 26, 1910, aged 85 years, 2 months.
 Russell R. Morse, born in Walworth, New York, May 5, 1827; came to Steuben county in Early life, died in Angola, Jan. 2, 1911, aged 83 years, 7 months and 27 days.
 E. Lillian McNelly, born in Angola, Nov. 11, 1854, died Jan. 5, 1911, aged 57 years, 2 months, 29 days.
 Frances R. Selvy Amerman, born in Salem township in 1858, died Jan. 7, 1911, aged 52 years, 11 months and 5 days.
 Samuel H. Gibbony, born in Richland county, Ohio, Nov. 23, 1837, died in Metz, Jan. 26, 1911, aged 73 years, 2 months and 3 days.
 Maria Barnes Beck, born in York township, Nov. 11, 1846, died Jan. 16, 1911, aged 64 years, 2 months and 1 day.
 James Pettit, born in Wayne county, Ohio, July 10, 1832; came to Steuben county in 1852, died in Fremont, Jan. 10, 1911, aged 78 years, 6 months and 19 days.
 Sanford Morse, born in Wayne county, New York, April 20, 1842; came to Steuben county in 1858, died in Angola, Feb. 4, 1911, aged 68 years 9 months and 11 days.
 Sarah Grim, wife of Albert G. Boyle, born in Columbiana, county, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1821, died in York township.
 Mary E. Stroh, wife of Charles Crandall, born in Ashland county, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1844; came to Steuben county in 1864, died Feb. 11, 1911, aged 66 years, 8 months and 7 days.
 Henry Hauver, born in Monroe county, New York; came to Steuben county in 1851, died in Angola, Feb. 2, 1911, aged 68 years and 1 month.
 George W. Woodford, born in Richland county, Ohio, July 16, 1838; came to Steuben county in 1853, died near Huron, South Dakota, Feb. 17, 1911, aged 72 years, 7 months and 1 day.
 Jonathan Menges, born in Wayne county, Ohio, June 9, 1844;  came to Steuben county in 1854, died at Greenville, Michigan, March 2, 1911, aged 66 years, 8 months and 21 days.
 George P. Leavitt, born in Steuben county, Ind., died at Paola, Kansas, May 24, 1911, aged 66 years.
 Ellen Perfect, born in the state of New York, March 1, 1835; came to Steuben county in childhood, died April 4, 1911, aged 76 years, 1 month and 3 days.
 Nancy Gates Rhoades, born in Brown county, new York, September 3, 1836; came to Steuben county in 1840, died April 7, 1911, aged 74 years, 7 months and 4 days.
 Joseph Badger, born in Scott township, Steuben county, Ind., died April 3, 1911, aged 56 years and 1 month,
 Milton Stayner, born in Richland county, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1824; came to Steuben county in 1832, died April 9, 1911, aged 86 years, 3 months and 28 days.
 Ira Tubbs, born in Richland county, Ohio, July 6, 1845; came to Steuben county in early life, died April 14, 1911, aged 65 years, 9 months, and 8 days.
 James M. Phenicie, born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Feb. 15, 1840; came to Steuben county in 1850, died at Reno, Kansas, April 18, 1911, aged 71 years and 2 months.
 Sylvia Saunders, wife of Elijah T. Sanders, born in Oakland county, Mich., March 10, 1835, died April 30, 1911, aged 77 years, 1 month and 20 days.
 Hannah M. Butler, wife of James M. Webb, born in Steuben county, May 14, 1848, died at Mount Vernon, Iowa, April 3, 1911, aged 62 years, 11 months and 13 days.
 Calvin Fee, born in Steuben county, Sept. 4, 1837, died near Hamilton, May 7, 1911, aged 73 years, 8 months and 3 days.
 Sarah Catherine Lininger, born in Steuben county, Dec. 24, 1841, died May 2, 1911, aged 50 years, 7 months and 22 days.
 Rhoda M. Wells, widow of Christian Fast, born in Wayne county, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1837; came to Steuben county in early life, died May 27, 1911, aged 74 years, 5 months and 14 days.
 Suson Burroughs Bachelor, born in Osage county New York, Dec. 10, 1828; came to Steuben county with her parents when a child, died in Angola, June 3, 1911, aged 82 years, 5 months and 24 days.
 Alvin Kittridge came to Steuben county about the year 1837, died May 30, 1911, aged about 70 years.
 Andrew J. Light, born in Alleghany county, New York, Oct. 7, 1835, died June 10, 1911, aged 75 years, 8 months and 3 days.
 George Warren Twichell, born in Steuben county, April 21, 1840, died near Orland, July 4, 1911, aged 76 years, 2 months and 12 days.
 Thomas J. Warner, born near Syracuse, New York, Dec. 25, 1839, died near Metz, June 28, 1911, aged 74 years, 6 months and 3 days.
 Aaron Bodley, born in Richland county, Ohio, August 16, 1836; came early in life to Steuben county, died in South Berkly, California, July 8, 1911, aged 74 years, 11 months and 21 days.
 Luretta E. Brooks, wife of Austin D. Norrick, born in York township, Steuben county, March 16, 1859, died July 30, 1911, aged 52 years, 4 months and 14 days. 
 Sarah Hoffman Snowgereger, born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 1, 1838, died at Zeigler, Oklahoma, July 9, 1911, aged 73 years, 6 months and 8 days.
 Hannah Stocker Harper, born in Jamaica, Vt., August 16, 1834; came to Steuben county in 1834, died in Orland, July 21, 1911, aged 76 years.

(PICTURE)
View of Angola from the Square toward the north, taken forty years Ago.

(PICTURE)
View of Angola from the Square toward the northwest, taken forty years Ago.

(PICTURE)
View of Angola from the Square toward the South, taken forty years Ago.